Elizabeth Kennedy-Wong, Community Engagement Manager

Ross Swanson, Planning Supervisor

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Willamette Park

NOTICE: Willamette Park will be closed temporarily on Tuesday, July 18, and Wednesday, July 19, 2017.

Impacts are expected for the south end of the park on these days, including the temporary closure of the bike and pedestrian entrance at SW Miles Place. The closures will occur during the day to complete trail and entrance paving. On July 18 and 19, park visitors may use this detour: take SW Miles St. to Macadam Ave. and enter the park on SW Nevada. Willamette Park’s main entrance at SW Nebraska will remain open to vehicles.

Please use caution and obey traffic signs and flaggers as construction work is completed.

Construction Alerts

DETOUR – June 29 and 30, 2017, 9am to 4pmWillamette Greenway Trail North Entrance to SW Hamilton CourtPedestrians and bikers are advised to use Tillicum Bridge to Springwater Corridor to the Sellwood Bridge.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE – July 10-12, 2017Nebraska Street EntranceEntrance will be temporarily closed to all vehicles starting Monday, July 10 through Wednesday, July 12, 2017. There will be no boat ramp access for boats on trailers. The closure is to allow paving at the park’s main entrance road, part of the Willamette Park Redevelopment Project.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE AND DETOUR – July 2017Willamette Greenway Trail South Entrance/Miles PlacePedestrians and bikers will be routed away from the Trail at Miles Place with a one-block detour on Highway 43 to Nevada Street. Temporary closures will allow trail improvement work at south entrance.

Construction Update – June 21, 2017

Improvements to the park are nearly finished! Thank you for your patience. Construction projects will be completed in summer 2017, after final work to upgrade park entrances and pedestrian and bike paths. Please be aware there will be temporary closures and detours in June and July (see above alerts).

Final Phase Improvements – Summer 2017

Pedestrian and bike circulation

Willamette River Greenway Trail

Park Entrance roadway and pavement

SW Nebraska Street

SW Miles Place (south Greenway access)

SW Riverpoint Lane (north Greenway access)

Oak Tree habitat at west side of park

Relocated Dog Off-Leash Area

Construction Update – October 7, 2016Willamette Park boat ramp construction is complete. The boat ramp is now open to the public. For details on ramp dredging, click here.

Construction Update – September 26, 2016As part of the Hannah Mason Pump Station construction project, construction will begin on a section of the Greenway Trail in the southern area of Willamette Park, beginning September 26. The trail will remain open during construction but bikes and pedestrians should proceed with caution through the construction area and obey flaggers and detour signs. Construction on the trail will continue through mid-October. The trail improvements are part of a larger project to make a list of improvements to Willamette Park.

Construction Update - August 2016A lot of work is taking place in Willamette Park through 2018. We want you to enjoy the park, and to be prepared for impacts while the construction is taking place. Below is a map and a summary of projects and timelines.Construction is messy and inconvenient. Please be aware of workers, construction vehicles, and detours as you visit this site.

A. Boat Ramp Closure and DredgingIncludes in-water maintenance work to ensure the usability of the ramp and beach to the south. This project will scour the end of the boat ramp and remove large quantities of silts/sediments that affect navigational depth to vessels approaching the ramp.

Boat ramp will be closed September - October 2016

Alternative boat ramps are located at

Cathedral Park, N Edison Street and Pittsburg Avenue

Swan Island, N Basin Avenue

M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp, 4325 NE Marine Drive

Portions of the parking lot will be used for construction staging

B. Hanna Mason Pump StationThe Hannah Mason Pump Station is being constructed to replace the Fulton Pump Station, which was built in 1912. For more information on this project, go to: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/water/62878

Construction Impacts:

Trail Closures and improvements

South Parking lot closed

Tennis court parking is being used by contractors during the day but is available in the evening

Contractor using a portion of North Parking Lot for staging materials

Beaver Ave - park entrance road is closed from south end of boat parking lot to south parking lot

Willamette Park Redevelopment PlanThis plan, finalized in 2012, develops a long-term concept that incorporates short-term developments and considers opportunities and community needs, while anticipating long-range changes. The following projects are consistent with the vision developed by the community as part of that plan.

C. Dog Off Leash Area (DOLA)

The Redevelopment Plan relocates the Dog-Off Leash Area to the northern portion of the park, directly in front of the Nebraska Street entrance. This will be constructed and open in 2017.

A temporary DOLA is located just north of the boat launch parking area (see map above), until the new DOLA is constructed and open.

D. Oak Restoration

Staff are working with the Bureau of Environmental Services to improve the existing oak tree habitat on the West side of the park between Beaver Rd. and the park boundary

Area is being replanted to help protect oak trees and improve water quality

The DOLA in this area is permanently closed

Work on this project will begin mid-August 2016

Trails Improvements

E. The section of trail north of Nebraska Street has been widened and repavedF. The section of trail has been widened and repavedG. The section of trail south of Nevada Street is open. Widening and repaving will occur later this Fall 2016H. Trail access from Nevada St. (OPB) is open. Additional work will occur in the autumn

Sports Fields

Sport Field #1 (central) is available for reservations and drop in use

As part of the Hannah Mason Pump Station construction project, a section of the Greenway Trail in the north area of Willamette Park will be closed for three weeks beginning Monday May 2. Bike and pedestrian traffic should follow detour signs and connect back to the Greenway Trail through the boat ramp parking lot in the center of Willamette Park.

The closure is required to make improvements to the Greenway Trail within Willamette Park. Travelers are reminded to exercise caution, obey closure signs and follow detour/traffic control signs due to the busy activity in the parking lot and along the main road in the park.

SW Nevada Street Work Nearing Completion - Posted April 27, 2016In addition to the trail improvements in Willamette Park, construction to connect the new pump station in Willamette Park with the existing pump station on SW Nevada Street will continue through the middle of May.The work requires crews to temporarily close a portion of the street near the existing pump station during work hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Safety is our highest priority, please obey all detour signs and flaggers during construction.

Following this work, restoration of SW Nevada St. will begin in mid-May. Restoration work will include repaving, replacing sidewalks, and replanting vegetation along SW Nevada St. Click here to learn more.

Project Overview

The 2015 Willamette Park Redevelopment Project is a strategic sequence of improvements to preserve and enhance an already popular and well-used park. This project’s proposed improvements were generated from a 2012 planning process (link to plan). Improvements include:

developing entrances and greenway trail amenities for the park to accommodate anticipated increases in bike and pedestrian traffic as the new Tilikum and Sellwood Bridges are completed;

an enhanced internal circulation system with new connector trails to create more looped walks;

moving the dog off-leash area (DOLA) from the west edge of the park, to an open area at the north end of the park;

working with the Bureau of Environmental Services to improve the existing oak tree habitat;

removal of the southern-most playground structure, which will be replaced later, once funding is obtained;

improving circulation in the southern portion of the park in the area of the new pump station; and,

Project Background

Willamette Park is a 26.85-acre regional waterfront park located east of SW Macadam Avenue at Nebraska Street, along the Willamette River. The park is an important regional destination with a variety of recreational functions. In addition, the park offers un-programmed open lawn area for informal passive recreation and is a destination for cyclists on the Willamette Greenway Trail. The park is also an important component in the mosaic of habitat along the Willamette River, providing a valued greenspace experience.

In December of 2012, Portland Parks and Recreation completed a planning effort called ‘The Redevelopment and Phasing Plan for Willamette Park’. That planning process was guided by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the community, including a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) comprised of neighbors and engaged citizens. The plan developed a design concept that incorporates short-term developments and considers opportunities and community needs while anticipating long-range changes. A project list of prioritized improvements was generated from the redevelopment plan.

A number of projects are taking place in Willamette Park over the 2015-2016 period. Much of the work completion coincides with the opening of the new Sellwood Bridge mid-2016.

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Redevelopment:

Relocate the dog off-leash area (DOLA)

Work is currently scheduled for spring and summer 2016;

Redesign three park entries.

Improve the western multi-use trail system;

These two activities will be taking place

Future relocation of the playground may take place at a later time.

Dock dredging/improvements

Anticipate boat dock closure for approximately one month from early September to early October 2016.

Alternative boat docks for use are located at Waterfront Park, Eastbank Esplanade, Sellwood Riverfront Park, Cathedral Park and Swan Island. Boat ramps are a Cathedral Park and Swan Island. For more information contact Cary Coker at 503-823-2525 or cary.coker@portlandoregon.gov

Water Bureau (WB)

The construction of a new Water Bureau facility, the Hannah Mason Pump Station is underway and expected to be completed by Fall 2016.

For information about this project, contact Sam Beresky at JLA Public Involvement: E-mail, Phone during business hours: 503-235-5881, 24/7 Project Hotline: 503-781-8365

Riverbank trail

Bureau of Environmental Services (BES)

Oak tree habitat restoration will begin once the dog off leash area (DOLA) is relocated.

Site preparation and planting are scheduled for October 2015 through April 2016

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) SW Miles Place Plaza (completed)